Visa hopefuls bordering on despair as UK tightens policy

The UK started tightening its border controls when the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition came to power in May 2010. Excluding visitor and transit visas, 13 percent fewer visas were issued in the year ending March 2012 than in the previous 12 months, according to the Home Office. The changes are likely to affect Chinese expats and students hoping to study at UK universities. Michael Paul Franklin / China Daily